Montreal, Qc (August 1, 2025) – It was a day to remember as Cirque du Soleil welcomed 60 athletes and coaches from Gymnastics Canada’s Women’s Artistic Gymnastics national training camp to their world-renowned International Headquarters (IHQ) in Montreal on Friday, August 1st.
As part of GymCan’s exciting new partnership with Cirque du Soleil, national team athletes from the novice, junior, and senior levels were invited to tour the stunning creative space that fuels one of the most imaginative and celebrated performance organizations in the world.
Throughout the day, athletes and coaches engaged in a unique blend of education and creativity designed to inspire excellence both in and out of the gym. André Lachance, Cirque’s Senior Director Casting, Coaching & PMED, delivered an impactful session on Confidence by Design, exploring how confidence is built, maintained, and influenced during training and competition. Guillaume Leduc, Performance Conditioning Specialist at Cirque du Soleil followed with a thoughtful presentation on Rest, Recovery, and Regeneration, offering practical tools for long-term performance and well-being.
One of the day’s highlights was an artistic workshop led by Cirque acrobatic choreographer Marie-Eve Demers. Athletes had the chance to transform into characters from OVO, exploring artistic movement and expression in ways that challenged and excited them.
To cap off this exceptional experience, 50 of the athletes and coaches attended LUZIA in Old Montreal—a breathtaking show that combines Mexican culture with Cirque du Soleil’s signature magic.
“We are so grateful for the opportunity to experience such a professional and highly creative environment,” said Jenny Trew, GymCan’s Director of Women’s Artistic Gymnastics. “Being able to learn from Cirque’s expertise in performance, mindset, and artistry is incredibly valuable for our athletes and coaches. Thank you to Cirque du Soleil for an amazing day.”
This unforgettable visit marks the beginning of an exciting collaboration between Gymnastics Canada and Cirque du Soleil—one that celebrates the power of sport, performance, and creativity coming together to elevate the next generation of gymnasts and artists.